Burning biker stuns rescuers /Singapore

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Burning biker stuns rescuers  
By Genevieve Jiang
 
August 20, 2005      
 
 
 
 
IT was a frightening sight - a struggling man, still perched on a motorcycle, engulfed in flames.

 
Such was the horror that it stunned the rescuers who could do little to help.

The man, identified as Mr Ong Choon Toh in his late 40s, was burnt beyond recognition.

The incident happened along Woodlands Drive 64.

A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman said it received an emergency call at 1.57am yesterday.

They were at the scene eight minutes later.

Said the SCDF spokesman: 'When we arrived, we saw a motorcycle at the side of the road in flames. The rider was still on it.

'He was struggling, but there was little we could do to help.

'By the time we put out the fire, he had already been burnt beyond recognition.'

What could have caused this mysterious incident?

Motorbike importer Ong Kim Hua, 39, from Dirt Wheel, said the death was most likely caused by a combination of leaking fuel and a circuit problem in the bike.

Said Mr Ong Kim Hua: 'A short circuit on its own will not cause such a dramatic accident. It will, at most, cause a small fire in time for the rider to jump off the bike and escape.

'In this case, there was a sudden explosion which means fuel must have been involved.

'The short circuit, which sparked the fire, could have melted the wire systems.

'It takes at least 15 minutes into the ride for something like that to happen.

'When the exposed wires come into contact with leaking fuel, that's when an explosion can occur.'

He said such incidents are very rare here.

This is the first time he has heard of such a case in his 20 years as a bike importer.

Senior consultant in emergency medicine at Alexandra Hospital
Dr James Parry Travers agreed that leaking fuel must have been involved.

Said Dr Travers: 'It could have been a loose spark combined with fuel for an explosion to occur.'

Dr Travers had treated a case of a rider whose private parts were burnt while filling his tank with petrol about three years ago.

He recalled: 'His pants, thighs and private parts were all injured. He had been sitting on his bike while refuelling. He was also doing something he was not supposed to do - smoking.

'You know the rest of the story.'

Mr Ong Kim Hua said to prevent such accidents from happening, it was best to constantly maintain one's vehicle in top condition.

He said: 'Send your bike for regular servicing to keep it in good shape.

'And when you notice something wrong with the circuit systems or fuel tank, do not be lazy and put off fixing it immediately.

'It pays to be careful. Lives are involved.'

Police have classified the case as unnatural death and are currently investigating.

 
 

Dr Travers had treated a case of a rider whose private parts were burnt while filling his tank with petrol about three years ago.

He recalled: 'His pants, thighs and private parts were all injured. He had been sitting on his bike while refuelling. He was also doing something he was not supposed to do - smoking.

'You know the rest of the story.'